At the end of the 1943 regular season, the Illinois Fighting Illini (known as the "Whiz Kids") were #1 in the polls, with a record of 17-1 and 12-0 in the Big Ten. But it was 1943, and three of the starting five (Art Mathisen, Ken Menke, and Jack Smiley) were drafted to fight overseas. The two remaining starters (Andy Phillip and Gene Vance) and head coach Doug Mills were left to make a tough decision about the postseason. They decided that if the whole team could not participate, they would not accept the NCAA's invitation to the tournament. Three months later, Andy Phillip and Gene Vance were drafted also.

Two days after the NCAA championship game, Wyoming played the NIT champion, St John's. The game was played at Madison Square Garden to benefit the Red Cross. With 18,000 in attendance, Wyoming beat St John's 52-47 in overtime.